F1 news 2022: Daniel Ricciardo opens up on horror season as Red Bull move slammed as ‘weird’

The months of torture have taken their toll - but could Daniel Ricciardo be about the make the dumbest move of his career? One F1 great is worried for the Australian.

Ricciardo is poised to re-join Red Bull, in a move that has been criticised by former F1 champion Jenson Button. Picture: AFP

Daniel Ricciardo looked on the verge of tears as he came to terms with another shocking drive for McLaren at the United States Grand Prix on Monday.

Many had questioned how the affable Aussie had remained so upbeat in the face of a horror sophomore campaign in the papaya that ultimately led to he and the team agreeing to part ways at the end of the season.

But the struggles have appeared to finally taken a toll on Ricciardo, who told media after his 16th-place finish in Austin: “I don’t know how I’m continuing to continue”.

“I have no idea what to say. Honestly, it’s just 2022,” a visibly emotional Ricciardo said.

“It’s been the year that it’s been. Just so far off the pace, I simply can’t lean on (the car), I can’t push, can’t get the time out of it.

“The inconsistency through the lap times, it shows that it really is a struggle, but to have such a really big margin (to teammate Lando Norris) again it remains a mystery.

“I love Texas, I love Austin, but that race was not enjoyable for me.”

Daniel Ricciardo (background) has spent much of the F1 season chasing from the back of the grid. Picture: Getty

Ricciardo had struggled all weekend to get control of the car and it continued into the race, with the West Australian managing to beat only perennial backmarker Nicholas Latifi to a disappointing 16th-place finish.

The 33 year old ostensibly dropped three places from his P16 start on the grid after Carlos Sainz, Lance Stroll and Valtteri Bottas all failed to finish the race in Austin.

“Here, when you think it can’t get worse, it does,” Ricciardo said.

“That’s where, I don’t know, I don’t know how I’m continuing to continue because ‘it’s painful’ is an understatement.”

Speaking on Sky Sports F1 after the race, 2009 World Champion Jenson Button said he could not believe how far Ricciardo had fallen since joining McLaren.

“It’s sad because he’s such a talent and to see him right at the back of the field, I can’t explain it. That’s a tough one,” Button said.

The Sky Sports pundit disagreed with Ricciardo’s plan to sit out the 2023 Formula 1 season and instead take a reserve driver role.

The Aussie has been linked with both Mercedes and his former team Red Bull, though he said on Sunday no contract had been signed despite talks on the matter progressing.

Ricciardo is poised to re-join Red Bull, in a move that has been criticised by former F1 champion Jenson Button. Picture: AFP

Sky Sports F1 reporter Ted Kravitz initially claimed a move to Red Bull was most likely, however after the race on Monday he said Mercedes was in the box seat to sign Ricciardo.

Button doesn’t like either of those options.

“I don’t think you can advise him in that situation, it needs to be down to what he’s feeling inside,” Button said.

“I can’t see Daniel as a third driver in the paddock, it just feels weird for me, it doesn’t work, but that’s obviously what he’s chosen to do (and) it feels right for him.

“I would rather he was racing in Formula 1 in a team that was further down the grid, then he can prove himself again in the car and maybe get a drive further up the grid. But as a third driver people will just remember his last race this year.”